LANSING, Michigan — Ending the battle as easily as it began, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday signed into law “right-to-work” measures that will allow employees to freely choose whether to belong to a union.

The bill was signed just hours after it was passed by both the House and Senate, unprovoked by the nearly 10,000 union activists and organizers present at the state’s capital to protest the law.

Watchdog.org captured video in Lansing showing dozens of protesters knocking down a tent run by Americans For Prosperity while several people were inside. Other videos posted online show heated confrontations between union workers and law supporters.

The law will forbid unions from requiring employees to pay union dues in order to be employed.

“Today, Michigan workers won the day as Gov. Snyder signed into law historic legislation ensuring the rights and freedoms of workers are protected by law,” said Michigan Republican Party chairman Bobby Schostak. “For the first time, Michigan workers will have the choice to decide whether to join a union, or not.”

Yaël Ossowski is a national investigative reporter for Watchdog.org. He previously worked at the Gaston Gazette newspaper and Fox 29 News in Philadelphia.
Contact him at yael@watchdog.org and on Twitter @YaelOss. Follow his written and video exploits on Yael.ca.